I Timothy 5:1-16 (Widows in the Church)In New Testament times, the plight of any woman not connected to aristocracy or great wealth was very difficult. They had no right to property and there was no means for their care once the husband died. During New Testament times, the average man lived only into middle age, so there were many widows in various stages of life. Paul calls for them to be cared for according to their age and situation. The ones who had the greatest need were widows without family above the age of sixty. If they were of good character and service then they could be put on "the widows list" to be cared for. The church became the older widow's substitute family. Since there were no other means of care available, this was a great responsibility and we can see why Paul would narrow the list this way. Strong instruction is given to families to care for their elderly parents or grandparents. Paul writes that not caring for elderly parents is tantamount to denying the Christian faith. He counsels the young widows to marry again. How does this passage relate to our own day and time? What levels of care can we offer today's widows or widowers?
I Timothy 5:17-25 (Treatment/Payment of Elders and Other Leadership issues)The position of elder is becoming a little clearer. One of the primary responsibilities of elders was preaching/teaching. He calls for them to have double honor and includes the possibility of financial support in verse 18. You can see from this passage why United Methodists could see the ordained elder fitting here. Accusations against an elder must be with two or more witnesses. We live in a day when betrayal of trust by clergy has become front-page and CNN news. This has made the credibility of those who have not violated public trust objects of extra scrutiny and sometimes false accusations. How might Paul's guidance here help us?
In verse 22, Timothy is not to be hasty about empowering and ordaining people to be elders. They must have a vibrant faith, great character and time of proving to see if they are a fit for such a life. In the United Methodist Church, elders, deacons, and lay pastors all go through a detailed background check, educational course work, and a series of interviews to see if the pastoral ministry is really for them. While God calls people to ministry, the church ordains. For ordination to happen there must be both God's yes and the church's yes.
Verse 23 has Paul's encouragement for Timothy to add some wine to his diet. Many have asked what the position of the United Methodist Church is about drinking alcohol. Honesty requires that we say that the bible does not forbid with alcohol. We are told not to be "filled with wine, but rather be filled with the Spirit." Drunkenness is considered sin in scripture. The long-standing but only somewhat practiced standard concerning drinking alcohol is as follows: recommended abstinence for laity and required abstinence for clergy. Many see this standard as archaic and it does come from very old documents of the Methodist Church. At the level of practice there is encouragement for moderation for laity and recommended abstinence for clergy. I have chosen to follow the standard of required abstinence as part of my commitment to Christ as an elder in the United Methodist Church. When I visit in homes and they have alcohol with their meals, I encourage them to do as they choose and I respectfully ask for a diet coke or iced tea. I do believe that serving alcohol at church gatherings should be discouraged, mainly because we have many members of the church who struggle with alcoholism, either in recovery or in non-recovery. Why should we put such a stumbling block in front of people who struggle with alcohol? Many argue with me saying they should have the right to drink when they wish, even at church gatherings. I am always uneasy when we are talking about Christian community and emphasize individual rights over care for one another. This is an issue where there is intense difference of opinion within the church.
I Timothy 6:1-2 (Is the bible pro-slavery?)The backdrop of the New Testament is one in which most of the population was considered a slave to Rome. Paul , in some of his letters, calls himself a "bondslave" (Greek doulos) of Christ. Many if not most of the people in the churches would have been slaves of one kind or another. Paul, in all of his writings, encourages slaves to be excellent servants to their masters as a means of being a powerful witness for Christ. If the master is Christian, then the service of the slaves becomes a statement of brotherhood or sisterhood in Christ. Throughout his letters, Paul tends not to take on the social status quo: patriarchy, slavery, absolute parental authority, etc. But he does encourage the subordinate person to approach their position from a point of strength - choosing to serve rather than waiting to be compelled to serve. The interesting thing about Christian history is that wherever the gospel takes hold, movements of liberation and freedom follow.
I Timothy 6:3-10, 17-19 (Money and the faith)The Bible is not anti-money or anti-wealth, but the Bible is anti-materialistic, anti-selfish, and anti-love-of money. John Wesley's great fear, at the close of the 18th century as he saw the church become more than he had expected, was that we would allow money and upward mobility to separate us from the poor and downtrodden. We have lived to fulfill his fear. His encouragement to Timothy here echoes Philippians 4, namely seeking godliness and contentment (which is true great gain). It also reflects Matthew 6:25-34 in the teachings of Jesus about seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This is most difficult to follow. The whole USAmerican economy is based on keeping you and me in some form of discontent. For the very wealthy, Paul counsels them to see their wealth at God's disposal for the sake of others. Generosity is one of the great and most liberating virtues in life, and each of us is called to find the level in which we can be faithful to God.
I Timothy 6:11-16, 20-21 (A Concluding Charge)From the beginning the primary agenda has been to encourage steadfastness and purity in Timothy over against the many challenges and temptations around him. He also lifts up the greatness of Christ in a beautiful doxology ins verses 14-16. Paul is being a great mentor. As a growing Christian, it is likely that you both need a mentor and also need to be a mentor to someone else. Who might those people be in your life? See you tomorrow.
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